Science of the Killer Night Hag Poltergeist
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Fact, fiction or medical condition? While writing her thesis, publicist Elle Delton endured the nightmare of a lifetime. A non-believer of the paranormal, Elle had a ‘ghostly encounter’ she won’t soon forget.
Photo Henry Fuseli oil on canvas 1796
“I was in bed and woke up to find myself unable to move.” said Elle.
“There was pressure on my chest and I was short of breath. All the while, I could sense the presence of something evil but had no idea what it was. For some reason, even though I don’t believe in them, I thought it was a ghost.”
Denton was experiencing what is known as a ‘night hag’, ‘old hag’, waking dream, or more definitively, sleep paralysis.
Sufferers report paralysis, terror, a crushing sensation on the chest or back and the sound of footsteps.
Many feel a presence in their room often described as the malevolent spirit of an old woman ‘riding’ on their chest.
As suddenly as the sensation begins, it is over.
Studies at Ontario’s Waterloo University reveal that up to 6% of the population may have experienced one of these attacks.
Sleep paralysis is frequently described as being held down by an invisible force and can be extremely frightening to the afflicted. This sleeping disorder is most often associated with demonic or malevolent activity because the phenomenon feels as if someone is holding or pinning you down, preventing you from being able to move or cry out for help. Some describe being attacked, choked or sexually molested.
Many people will suffer from at least one incident in their lifetime. During deep sleep the body dreams. Parts of the mind shut down and allow the cells to rest while others continue to function, and this is when we dream.
While dreaming the mind shuts down the systems that allow the body to move, thus protecting us from harming ourselves as we dream. When this defense system fails various sleep disorders may prevail. Sleep walking and involuntary movement — repeatedly beating the head or other body parts against walls or floors — are common sleep disorders.
While experiencing a night hag the system that paralyzes your body is still functioning. But for reasons not yet understood a person will awaken and be entirely alert to their surroundings. This inability to move can be terrifying, and since the person is aware they’re awake, most tend to attribute this to some demonic or supernatural phenomena.
The person is actually still dreaming and is in the middle of one of the most terrifying nightmares one could experience. People have reported footsteps in the hallway, figures at the foot of the bed touching and grabbing at them and an impending sense of doom. Some have speculated that Night Hags are the origin of alien abduction phenomena.
People who have experienced Night Hags are adamant in their belief that what they experienced was real, not merely a dream.
For those who thought they were about to read of a bizarre spooky poltergeist haunting in this article, I won’t disappoint …
Guardian Angel?
Woman has a horrific crash but survives. Was her guardian angel there to save her? Images of what appears as a vague ghost in a photo also appear on the negative. Sound quality is very low, but an interesting clip nonetheless.
The Pink Lady
Guy believes the pink lady is the ghost of Greencastle.
Ghost Hunters
Ghost hunters investigate ghostly activity in a home, but are met with
violent resistance.
Unexplained Mysteries – Angel Files 1
More than 65% of Americans believe that angles truly exist.
So why do so many believe in this day and age?
Unexplained Mysteries – Angel Files 2
Beings a man claims he saw when his mother died.
Unexplained Mysteries – Angel Files 3
Passengers survive a plane crash.
Unexplained Mysteries – Angel Files 4
Abducted girl survives 3 days in the desert, children taken hostage
in a Wyoming school.
Unexplained Mysteries – Angel Files 5
Continued story of children taken hostage in a Wyoming school.
Sources: Metro and International Ghost Hunter’s Society
Copyright Life in the Fast Lane 2007
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Not to believe in the existence of other life forms on other planets and not to believe in the continuation of life in another form after we pass away shows ignorance in my opinion. The world is full of mysteries we cannot really explain, but why do we need to explain them anyway? I always believed that “believing” sets you free. And I believe that everything is possible. Everything.
Wow! This post really was stuffed with oddly ghosts!!! Excellent done I must say. There really are a lot of unexplained mysteries around!
I can’t say that I believe in ghosts, but I can’t prove the opposite either, so I stay with my statement: I believe it when I see it with my own eyes
(I’ll link to all the oddly ghost posts in the end of my oddly ghost post, to make it easier for all of us to find each others post
I’ve had that happen to me before, when my body was paralyzed, and I still felt like I was in a dream, but I felt awake! That is relieving to know about how the mind functions during sleep. Thanks for all the ghost stories too….. eek…..
Very interesting ! sometimes when a persons gets a heart attack he also thinks that somebody sits on his chest. I too only believe what I see with my own eyes and when I am not sleeping, lol !
Very interesting. But I wouldn’t wish the same thing to happen to me. Can’t even handle a simple panic attack.
Well said Mig =) People try to explain the unexplained in attempt to understand it, but who knows if we ever will. Yes, believe … I do
Thanks Captain
I’ve actually had some experiences myself, so there is no question in my mind. I’ll come to visit everyone’s spooktacular posts as soon as I have the chance 
Sword Girl, glad you got some benefit from this info, it must be traumatizing to experience. The closest I’ve come is waking from a nightmare and not being able to move or scream, but the paralysis stopped in less than a minute, as I was gathering my wits to realize I was awake.
Gattina, that’s interesting. I’ve never heard any mention of that sensation during a heart attack.
I wouldn’t wish it on anyone Bosley
Very interesting – sure it’s more out there that science today can explain. But it’s important to not mix up dreams with reality.
very spooky post Deborahhhhhh :0
you just never know….
Fuseli is one of my favourite artists ..his drawings are sensational !!!!
As for mixing dreams with reality, sleep paralysis is a perfect example TorAa, excellent point.
I’ve never seen Fuseli’s work up till now Kim. It’s very unique and intriguing.
[...] of a poltergeist or just merely wind? You be the judge [...]
When sleeping late in the morning after a long night at work, I am frequently of the impression my housekeeper, Mrs. Bishop, takes to wandering about the bedroom – a room within which she is permitted only while I am away from the house. My impression of here is most disruptive for she generally makes quite some noise as she goes about her business while I sleep.
Of course, upon waking fully, there is no indication she, or anyone else, has been in the room with me.
I believe this to be a common occurrence and nothing but the mind longing to be awake when the body does not wish it.
i keep having those stupid hags and i dont like it….. i always thought bad about them… i dont kno what to do to stop it… 4 some reason it always happens at my sis… the only reason why i am writing this is because i just woke up from one. Then i went on the inernet to look it up… i want it to go away…. ):
Staci, there may be some therapy available for this particular sleep disorder. Perhaps try Googling it for practitioners in your area.